Revetment mat



p 1931. B. A. ROSS 1,822,602

REVETMENT MAT Filed Aug. 7, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 8, 1931. B. A.ROSS 1,822,602

REVETMENT MAT Filed Aug. 7, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheep 2 Patented Sept. 8 1931UNITED STATES BLAIR A. ROSS, OF MEMPHIS; TENNESSEE REVETMENT MATApplication filed August 7, 1930. Serial No. 473,727.

This invention relates to improvements in revetment mats which are to beused for the purpose of preventing erosion of the banks or channels ofstreams especially those a which flow through alluvial or other readilyerodable land, or for preventing other erosion due to the flow or washof water. Streams flowing through alluvial lands are constantly shiftingand if they are to be sta- I.) bilized, it becomes necessary to revetportions of the bank often for considerable distances along the stream,such revetment often extending to quite deep water and also Well upalong the bank. Likewise the wash of waves or flow of water over dams orother obstructions cause serious damage, which strands composingthemhaving been subject to early destruction by rusting, especially instreams where fluctuation causes alternate submerging and exposure tothe air. In such cases it is often found after very short periods, thatrupture has taken place, allwing the mat to separate into sections anddc struction of the bank to occur.

This invention specifically relates to improvements in the means bywhich the concrete mats are secured together, and also to improvementsin means by which such mats may be attached to placing means, such asthose shown in my pending application for patent Serial No. 473,728filedflAugust 7, 1930, which application is directedto means and methodsfor placing these and other forms of mats. 7

The objects of the present invention are:

To provide a mat made up of a plurality of similar units;

To provide simple and efiicient means for securing these units together;

To provide means associated with the connecting means by which the matmay be readily engaged, and supported for placing; and

To provide connecting means by which the strains of the connectors maybe most efficiently transmitted to the slabs.

The means by which the foregoing and other objects are accomplished andthe man ner of their accomplishment will readily be understood fromthefollowing specification on reference to the accompanying drawings, inwhich F ig. 1 is a fragmentary sectional elevation taken as on the lineII of Fig. 2, showing adjacent slab corners together with the connectingmeans and support loop.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan with the support loop cut away as on theline IIII of Fig. 1, showing an adjacent corner of each of four slabs.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional elevation taken as on the line III-IIIof Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan View of a portion of a mat showing a numberof slabs connected together.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan of a corner of one of the slabs; and

Fig. 6 is a corresponding elevation thereof.

Referring now to the drawings, 10 are concrete slabs of identical shapeand size a number of which'are connected together to form a revetmentmat of which a portion is shown in Fig. 4.

Each of these units comprises a thin fiat slab of concrete ordinarilythree or four inches thick, preferably either square or rectangular inplan and ordinarily made about eight feet square or if rectangular abouteight feet wide, and twelve feet. long. These dimen- 95 sions howeverare for the purpose of illustration only and of course may be varied tosuit conditions, handling facilities, or 1 for other reasons.

Preferably, these slabs are reinforced in usual or desired manner butsuch reinforcement not being a portion of the present invention, ispurposely omitted. Obviously triangular or hexagonal slabs maybe usedinstead of square slabs if it be so desired.

The corners of each slab are cut away to form chamfered corners 11,which provide space when the slabs are assembled, in which the attachingmeans may be disposed.

Projecting horizontally from each such chamtfered corner, substantiallymidway of the depth or thickness of the slab, is a rod 12 the end ofwhich 13A, is bent vertically upward. The rods 12 may be extendeddiagonally across each slab so that the two ends of one such rod wouldform the two diagonally opposite hooks. Since the assembled mats aresubject to strain down stream and also out from the bank, such diagonalplacing accomplishes the most efficient type for the resultant stresses.

In Fig. 3, the rod ends 13A are shown dotted. In such position a ring 14is placed over them and they are bent over the ring as shown to formhooks 13, which hooks securely engage the ring by which they are heldtogether.

After the rod ends have been bent over the ring to hook form, a washer15 is laid on the top of the hooks and the shank 16 of the loop 17 ispassed through the washer and between the hooks. An additional Washer 18is placed against the underside of the hooks and the nut 19 screwed onthe threaded end of the shank to secure the loop in place. This assemblyalso serves to clamp the bight of the hooks and materially assists inpreventing their opening out under strain.

111 laying a mat the individual slabs are assembled with one corner ofeach of four slabs together. A ring is then dropped over the tour upturned rod ends and they are bent over as before described, the washersand loops are placed and tightened, and the particular connection iscompleted. Similar connections are made at all corners to complete themat.

Obviously the rods 12, where they extend well into or across the slabform part of the reinforcement for the slab, and conversely, portions oithe reinforcement may be er:- tended and such reinforcement flexiblyconnected together to join the slabs.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a revetment mat comprising concrete slabs assembled with onecorner of each of four slabs adjacent, hooks each projecting from ablock corner, a ring engaged by and holding together the tour adjacentbooks, a lifting loop having a shank disposed through said ring and hookassembly, and means for securing said loop to said assembly, saidattaching means engaging said hooks to prevent opening thereof.

2. In a revetment mat comprising concrete slabs having cham'feredcorners assembled with one corner of each of four-slabs adjacent, hookseach projecting from a block cornor, a ring engaged by and holdingtogether the tour adjacent hooks, a lifting loop having a shank disposedthrough said ring and hook assembly, and means for securing said loop tosaid assembly, said attaching means clamping said hooks to retardopenii'ig thereof.

3. In a revetment mat comprising concrete slabs assembled with onecorner of each of a plurality of slabs adjacent, hooks each projectingfrom a block corner, a ring engaged by and holding together the saidhooks, a lifting loop having a shank disposed through said ring and hookassembly, and means for securing said loop to said assembly, said attaching means clamping said hooks to retard opening thereof.

4. A revetment mat unit, comprising a rectangular concrete slab, havingits four corners beveled, rods each projecting horizontally from a slabcorner, and thence bent upward at right angles to form hook mem bers,said hook members lying wholly within the rectangle circumscribing saidslab.

5. A revetment mat unit, comprising a rectangular concrete slab, havingits four corners beveled, rods each projecting horizontally from a slabcorner, and thence bent upward at right angles to form hook members.

6. A revetment mat unit, comprising an equiangular polygonal concreteslab, having its corners beveled, rods, each projecting horizontallyfrom a slab corner, and thence bent upward at right angles to form hook1nembers, said hook members lying wholly within the polygoneircumscribing said slab.

7. A revetment mat, comprising a plurality of similar rectangularconcrete slabs assembled in longitudinal and transverse rows, said slabseachhaving its corners cut away to provide a space for connecting means,and connecting means for adjacent slab corners, each comprising a ring,and rods, each projecting horizontally from a slab at said corners, saidrods being bent upward to receive said ring and backward over said ringtoward said slab to hold said. ring in place.

8. A revetment mat, comprising a plurality of similar polygonal concreteslabs assembled in rows, said slabs each having its corners cut away toprovide a space for connecting means, and connecting means for adjacentslab corners, each comprising a ring, and rods each projectinghorizontally from a slab at said corners, said rods being bent upward toreceive said ring and backward over said ring toward said slab to holdsaid ring in place.

9. A revetment mat, comprising a plurality of similar straight sidedconcrete slabs assembled in longitudinal. and transverse rows, saidslabs each having its corners cut away to provide a space for connectingmeans, and connecting means for adjacent slab corners, each comprising aring, and rods, each projecting horizontall from a slab at said corners,said rods, being bent upward to receive said ring and backward over saidring toward said slab to hold said ring in place.

10. A revetment mat unit adapted for connection to similar units,comprising a rectangular concrete slab having the four corners thereofchamfered, rods each projecting horizontally from a slab corner and bentupward at right angles to form a hook member, said hook members beingadapted to be connected to hook members of other slabs by placing a ringover said hooks and bending them to secure said ring.

11. A revetment mat unit, adapted for connection to similar units,comprising a polygonal concrete slab, having the corners thereofchamfered, rods each projecting horizontally from a slab corner and bentupward at right angles to form a hook member, said hook members beingadapted to be connected to hook members of other slabs by placing a ringover said hooks and bending them to secure said ring.

12. A revetment mat unit, adapted for connection to similar units,comprising a straight sided concrete slab, having the corners thereofchamfered, rods each projecting horizontally from a slab corner and bentupward at right angles to form a hook member, said hook members beingadapted to be connected to hook members of other slabs by placing a ringover said hooks and bending them to secure said ring.

13. A revetment mat, comprising a plurality of rectangular concrete slabunits, each having chamfered corners, assembled with one corner of eachof four units adjacent; said units having hook members each projectingfrom an edge thereof in said chamfered corners, and rings, eachconnecting the adj acent hooks of four units, said rings each beingassembled over four hooks and the latter thereafter bent to permanentlysecure said ring.

14. A revetment mat, comprising a plurality of concrete slab units, eachhaving chamfered corners, assembled with a similar plu rality of cornersof units adjacent; said units having hook members each projecting froman edge thereof in said chamfered corners, and rings, each connectingthe group of hooks of adjacent corners, said rings each being assembledover said hooks and the latter thereafter bent to permanently securesaid ring.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

BLAIR A. ROSS.

